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The words leaving his lips fill me with so much love. I let out a sigh, and he leans in to kiss me slowly. It tastes like reassurance, and it silences every ounce of guilt in my body.

When he pulls back, he smirks at me. “Now, come on, boyfriend. Let’s get moving.”

I let out a quiet laugh, shaking my head, grateful for him breaking the tension. I know things are nowhere near ‘normal’—we’re both carrying so much we still have to unpackand process, but this morning Ryder seems a little bit more like himself. I think waking up in my bed after a full night of sleep gave him a little sense of safety that he’s been craving and didn’t get at the hospital. Being together at home, just us, has always been our space where we could be our neediest, most vulnerable selves without judgment.

We finally start moving, getting ready and hopping in the shower—together, obviously—before locking up and heading out. We stop at the store on the way to pick up a bouquet of flowers for our moms. I was an asshole in the hospital; it’s the least I can do. Ryder’s mom is meeting us at my parents’ place so we can all spend the day together, as one big unofficial family.

“You okay?” I ask, reaching over to lace our fingers together after we get back in the car with the flowers.

“Yeah. Still feels like a lot of pressure, though, for some reason. I don’t even know why—maybe because it’s the first ‘normal’,” he emphasizes with air quotes, “hangout we’ve had since the first email before we even knew what was going on. I still feel kind of guilty for not telling them about anything that was happening.”

I watch as he wets his lips, his gaze flickering away for a second before he lets out a dry laugh.

“It’s not every day your son’s best friend-slash-boyfriend gets kidnapped, and falls in love mid-crisis. Real high-stakes romance shit. Oh, and let’s not forget the part where your dad stormed a warehouse with you with guns like he’s Liam Neeson.”

I snort. “Yeah, good thing for his military background. He was dead set on coming with me though, and honestly, I’m so fucking glad he did. My nerves were at an all-time high, and Iprobably would have done something reckless because you were the only thing I could think about.”

Ryder huffs, shaking his head, looking at me with a genuine smile now. “Alright, alright. Let’s go get fussed over by our parents.”

I lean over and give him a quick kiss. “C’mon, baby.”

Ryder groans but climbs out of the car with me, holding the flowers for his mom. I take the ones for mine and keep his other hand in mine. We walk up the front steps, and before I can even knock, the door swings open and Mom is standing there with red-rimmed eyes like she’s been up all night crying over us. She steps forward and pulls me into a crushing hug, squishing her flowers in the process.

“Oh, honey,” she whispers against my shoulder, squeezing me so tight I wince. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Mom,” I grunt. “Ow. Still healing.”

She releases me, then her gaze lands on Ryder, and she makes an entirely different sound. A soft, heartbroken noise as she reaches for him, gripping his face like she’s making sure he’s real.

“Ryder,” she breathes.

His throat bobs, but he doesn’t pull away. “Hey, Mrs. Hart.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” she murmurs, cupping his cheeks before pulling him into a hug. “We were so worried. I’ve been worried sick about you both.”

Mom holds him for a long moment, then finally pulls back, brushing her hands over his arms like she’s checking him for injuries herself. Then she turns over her shoulder.

“Jim, Michael, they’re here!”

“Mom, these are for you. I’m sorry I was an asshole in thehospital, I was so scared and I was taking it out on everyone in the room, including you. You didn’t deserve that.”

“Oh, honey, no. I get it. I am so glad you pushed so hard and you’re both okay.”

I smile at her, and Ryder does the same, as my dad comes into view. His eyes flick between me and Ryder, like he’s checking to make sure we’re actually okay.

“Hey, boys,” he says.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Mr. Hart.”

“Oh, Ryder, sweetie. Call us Jim and Anne, please. We’ve been through enough for the formalities.”

Dad nods, then moves toward Ryder, pulling him in for a hug before doing the same to me.

Michael comes bounding out of the house in jeans and a gray hoodie. He looks so much like me, just a couple of years older with shorter, neater blonde hair that’s a little darker.

“Little bro, you had me so worried!” he exclaims as he walks over and pulls me into a bone-crushing hug.